It is no fun and frustrating when you got a
flat tire on the way to work or home. So, be prepared and follow these simple
steps and you are back on the road in no time.
Step 1: Find a flat, stable and safe place to change your tire. You need a solid, level surface that will restrict the car from rolling. If you are near a road, park as far from traffic as possible and turn on your emergency flashers (hazard lights). Avoid soft ground and hills.
Step 2: Apply the parking brake and put car into "Park" position. If you have a standard transmission, put your vehicle in first or reverse.
Step 3: Place a heavy object (e.g., rock, concrete, spare wheel, etc.) in front of the front and back tires.
Step 4: Take out the spare tire and the jack. Place the jack under the frame near the tire that you are going to change. Ensure that the jack is in contact with the metal portion of your car's frame
ü Many
cars have molded plastic along the bottom. If you don't place the jack in the
right spot, it will crack the plastic when you start lifting. If you're not
sure about the right place to put the jack, read your owner's manual.
ü For
most modern uni-body cars, there is a small notch or mark just behind the front
wheel wells, or in front of the rear wheel wells where the jack is intended to
be placed.
ü For
most trucks or older cars that have a frame, look to place the jack on one of
the beams of the frame just behind the front tire or in front of the rear tire.
Step 5: Raise the jack until it is supporting (but not
lifting) the car. The jack
should be firmly in place against the underside of the vehicle. Check to make
sure that the jack is perpendicular to the ground.
Step
6: Remove the hubcap and loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise. Don't take them all the way off; just break the resistance.
By keeping the wheel on the ground when you first loosen the nuts, you'll make
that you're turning the nuts instead of the wheel.
ü Use
the wrench that came with your car or a standard cross wrench. Your wrench may
have different sizes of openings on different ends. A correctly-sized wrench
will slip easily over the nut, but will not rattle.
ü Try
to prepare for any unforeseen tire changes by keeping the exact socket size for
your lug nuts as well as a breaker bar handy in the trunk.
ü It
can take quite a lot of force to break your lug nuts free. If all else fails,
you can use your body weight or stomp on the wrench (be absolutely certain you
are turning it the correct way - counterclockwise). However, using your body
weight or stomping means you run the risk of stripping the lug nuts, as it is
difficult to maintain full contact.
Step 7: Pump or crank the jack to lift the tire off the
ground. You need to lift it high
enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with a spare.
ü As
you lift, make sure that the car is stable. If you notice any instability,
lower the jack and fix the problem before fully lifting the car.
ü If
you notice the jack lifting at an angle or leaning, lower and reposition it so
that it can lift straight up.
ü It
is always a good idea to keep a small jack stand handy in the vehicle as well,
in case the jack gives out during the tire change. Using both the small jack
and the normal jack will keep you safe in the event of a jack failure.
Step 8: Remove the nuts the rest of the way. Turn them counterclockwise until they are loose.
Repeat with all lug nuts, then remove the nuts completely.
ü Although
rare, some vehicles actually have reverse threaded lug nuts. These are usually
much older cars from Chrysler and GM.
Step 9: Remove the tire. Place the flat tire under the vehicle so in the event of a jack
failure the vehicle will fall on the old wheel, hopefully preventing injury. If
the jack is placed on a flat, solid base, you shouldn't have any problems.
ü The tire might stick due to rust. You could try hitting the
inside half of the tire with a rubber mallet to loosen the tire, or use the
spare tire to hit the outside half.
Step 10: Place the spare tire on the hub. Take
care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts, then put on the
lug nuts.
ü Be
sure to install the spare tire the correct way and not backwards. The valve
stem of a doughnut tire should face outwards, away from the vehicle.
ü If
your vehicle uses acorn-style lug nuts, it is easy to put those on backwards as
well. Be sure the tapered part of the nut faces the wheel when tightening it
down.
Step 11: Tighten the nuts by hand until they are all snug. They should turn easily at first.
ü Using the wrench, tighten the nuts as
much as possible using a star pattern. To ensure the tire is balanced, don't
completely tighten the nuts one at a time. Going in a star pattern around the
tire, one nut across from another, give each nut a full turn until they are
equally tight.
ü Avoid using so much force that you risk
upsetting the jack. You will tighten the lug nuts again once the car is down
and there is no risk of it falling.
Step 12: Lower the car without applying full weight on the
tire. Tighten the nuts as much
as possible.
Step 13: Lower the car to the ground fully and remove the jack. Finish
tightening the nuts and replace the hubcap.
Step 14: Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to a mechanic. Get
an estimate for the cost of repair. Small punctures can usually be repaired for
less than $15. If the tire is not repairable, they can dispose of it properly
and sell you a replacement.
